Top 20 Action Scenes Done In One Take
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 20 One-Take Action Scenes. For this list, we’ll be looking at the most insane fights that look as though they happen within a single shot. Did we miss any of your favorite one-take wonders? Let us know in the comments below!
#20: Breakout in Dhaka
“Extraction” (2020)
On paper, this scene is deceptively straightforward: break-in, save the kid, and get the hell out of Dhaka. But, as with most heists, things don’t go exactly according to plan. What follows is a tour-de-force of action that plays out over a staggering, uninterrupted twelve minutes. It’d be tough for any film to maintain tension that long, let alone without any fancy editing. Even more impressive, the fight isn’t stationary, either. Chris Hemsworth’s Tyler Rake shoots down goons in tight hallways, busy streets, and even in the middle of a high-speed car chase. Suffice it to say, the pace never lets up, and neither does this scene.
#19: New York’s Finest
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“The Defenders” (2017)
For a show named after them, it took a few episodes for this team of heroes to share a room together. But, when they did, it came with a killer fight. While this one-take scuffle is a small segment of a larger bout, the sweeping visuals still sell the scale of “The Defenders” finally, well, assembling. Plus, the tighter set and grungier combat fit these street-smart heroes to a tee. It’s no small task to bring the unique fighting styles of Jessica Jones, Danny Rand, Luke Cage, and Matt Murdock into one show, let alone in a single shot. But, against all odds, this immaculately choreographed beatdown defends that honor with ease.
#18: Egg Toss
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“Game Night” (2018)
When Max and his friends are tasked with stealing a priceless Fabergé egg, it leads to the most intense game of keep-away there’s ever been. Luckily, the film lives up to its name and turns the mansion into a playground of camerawork. The continuous framing creates a propulsive sense of tension by constantly weaving in between doorways and stairwells. There’s a new threat behind every turn, but the intricate blocking ensures the scene never gets cornered for too long. It’s impressive for both its creative execution and its technical merits. And yet, fitting the tone of this offbeat comedy, it still ends with a gut-busting laugh, too.
#17: Going Up
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“The Protector” (2005)
This whole sequence is basically just a demo reel for Tony Jaa’s incredible stunt work. All you need to know is these guys crossed Kham, and now, nothing’s going to stop him from reaching the top of their base. So, he meticulously climbs the floors, taking out everyone and everything in his path. The steady progression makes the scene feel like a video game in the best way possible. But, of course, the behind-the-scenes talents are the real star of the show. At a certain point, it’s hard to say what’s more jaw-dropping: the unblinking camera, or the fight choreography it captures. Either way, the result is one unforgettable smackdown.
#16: I Spy Gone Wrong
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“Hanna” (2011)
Instead of bombastic action or flashy camera movements, this scene stews in slow-burn tension, and it’s all the better for it. All you see is a man here and a shadow there, but the implication is clear: Erik is being surrounded. The anticipation slowly and agonizingly grows until it’s almost too much to bear. Then, in a flash, Erik finally puts up his dukes. The build-up and release of this moment are nothing short of masterful, and the action that follows doesn’t disappoint one bit. Without any cuts, the camera continues rotating around the fight even as multiple assailants are thrown in and out. It ensures that Erik doesn’t just defeat his assassins, he does it with style.
#15: Battle of the Bastards
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“Game of Thrones” (2011-19)
In all of television, there may never be a scene that more accurately depicts what it’s like to step foot on a battlefield. And, almost all of that is attributed to this stunning single-take sequence. Jon Snow is technically the focal point, but the camera can barely keep its lens on him. Instead, it's constantly pulled between different battles and moments in a total storm of cinematography. Because of that impeccable camerawork, this breathtaking spectacle captured the frenetic messiness of a battlefield in a way words never could. Let’s just say it’s no surprise that this is considered one of the very best episodes of “Game of Thrones,” ever.
#14: Assemble
“The Avengers” (2012)
Earth’s Mightiest Heroes spent several years and multiple films building up to this industry-defining crossover. So, their team-up deserved an equally grand fight scene, and that’s exactly what they got. Tracking Iron Man’s flight during the battle justified a lengthy, sweeping shot that’s the very definition of epic. It seamlessly flows through each of the Avengers doing their part in the skirmish, and even throws in some nice moments of teamwork, too. Sure, there’s definitely a whole lot of CGI going on here. But, when the music hits just right and the characters look this cool, it’s impossible to resist getting swept away in the fun.
#13: Explosive Extraction
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“Atomic Blonde” (2017)
Charlize Theron worked with eight different personal trainers to prepare for this film, and boy does it show. None more so than in this ambitious ten-minute thrill ride. There isn’t a single second of this shootout where the camera lets you blink. It’s a non-stop assault of blood, bullets, and bravado, all capped off with some of the best fight choreography in the business. In actuality, the scene was stitched together from around forty separate shots, but the combat is so fast-paced it’s impossible to tell. By the time it transitions into a high-octane car chase, the only question remaining is how in the world they kept the camera rolling.
#12: In the Ring
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“Creed” (2015)
The “Rocky” franchise has no shortage of iconic fight scenes. But, somehow, “Creed” offered up the best one yet. For the first time, the camera actually gets in the ring, and then stays there. There isn’t a single blow in this climactic slugfest that isn’t up close and personal. Despite the fact that there isn’t much room inside a boxing ring, the lens never feels too crowded, either. There’s a clear precision in the movement that lends the whole match and a certain visceral quality. And it accomplishes that without ever infringing on its cinematic merits, either. No question about it, this is the best seat in the house.
#11: Trip Through Bagghar
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“The Adventures of Tintin” (2011)
In this dramatic chase, there are three scrolls, two characters on the run, and one dazzling example of animation at its best. In a way, this spectacular long shot could also double as a tour of Bagghar. After all, Tintin and Haddock pretty much see it all by the time everything's said and done. Thankfully, the breathtaking animation and first-rate cinematography don’t waste a single frame. In fact, the only thing better than this film’s picturesque visuals is seeing them all in motion. The biggest compliment to give “Tintin’s” chase is that, even though it’s animated, it doesn’t feel like this scene could have been realized any other way.
#10: There Goes the Neighborhood
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“True Detective” (2014-)
Rust Cohle’s undercover raid definitely did not go as planned. And, lucky for us, the camera was there to catch all of it. Once the first bullet flies, the screen is glued to Cohle, even as the neighborhood descends into chaos around him. The gripping escalation of violence is terrifying not because of what we see, but because of what we don’t. Throughout it all, the unsteady camera practically commands attention, and the results are literally award-winning. This episode won the prestigious Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series. Though, something tells us “True Detective” could have just submitted these six minutes alone, and it still would’ve won.
#9: Battlefield Charge
“1917” (2019)
With 1,600 lives on the line, two British corporals have a single day to relay a message across the warzone. They only have one shot, and ironically, the movie looks like it does, too. Edited to appear as two continuous takes, the film offers too many exemplary set pieces to count, including a particularly gnarly fight around a destroyed bridge. But, of course, it’s Schofield’s final push that reigns supreme. He quite literally goes through blood, sweat, and tears to finish his mission, and the final scene is nothing less than inspiring. The sheer scale of this moment is a feat of filmmaking that’s bound to stay with you long after the credits roll.
#8: Debris Storm
“Gravity” (2013)
It’s no hyperbole to say that the first thirteen minutes of this Oscar-winning feature are actually out-of-this-world. From a purely narrative perspective, the mesmerizing long take effortlessly characterizes the contrasting wonder and fear of outer space. But, even if there wasn’t a whole film to follow, this sequence would still dazzle based on its craftsmanship alone. Here, the camera is practically its own character. It plays a pivotal role in accelerating the scene’s tension by spinning faster and faster as the situation worsens. By the time Ryan’s careening around her shattered spacecraft, the camera successfully places the audience in that exact same position. “Gravity’s” unprecedented visuals took years to complete, but it was worth every second.
#7: Hospital Hunt
“Hard Boiled” (1992)
The craziest part of this masterful shootout isn’t that they pulled it off, but that it wasn’t supposed to be one-take at all. In an effort to cut down the production’s grueling filming schedule, they decided to condense the hospital raid into what looks like one continuous shot. Fittingly, the scene is an adrenaline-fueled frenzy from the moment Alan and Tequila open the door. It was all filmed on the same set, too, meaning the production team only had a fake twenty-second elevator ride to make up the next floor. It’s a true miracle the pacing feels so seamless. Time-saving measure or not, “Hard Boiled’s” hospital shootout goes down as one of the all-time greats.
#6: Through the Woods
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“The Revenant” (2015)
Director Alejandro G. Iñárritu is no stranger to ambitious long-shots. In fact, originally, he was going to present the entirety of “The Revenant” as a single take. While budgetary constraints nixed that idea, parts of his vision remained in the brutal Arikara attack. Although, the word “attack” might not do it justice; this is more of a slaughter. Iñárritu’s cinematography definitely brings that to life, and then some. He puts an uncomfortable emphasis on nontraditional framing and shaky perspectives. As a result, the barbaric violence isn’t just eerie, it’s downright haunting. For the sake of queasy audiences everywhere, maybe it’s for the best that “The Revenant” wasn’t all filmed like this.
#5: Freefall
“Mission: Impossible - Fallout” (2018)
Ethan Hunt has a habit of taking the craziest stunts you can think of, and somehow making them even crazier. Although to be fair, it’s only natural that a movie named “Fallout” dedicates an extended long shot to that very thing. Hunt’s impromptu skydive is a harrowing jaw-dropper of a scene that doesn’t just stand out among “Mission: Impossible” films, but stunt work as a whole. The only thing more breathtaking than the actual shot composition is that so little of it was CGI. Tom Cruise famously does his own stunts, and that translated to jumping out of a plane around 106 times. It’s safe to say this mission was a total success.
#4: A “Daring” Smackdown
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“Daredevil” (2015-18)
In terms of fight choreography, this show definitely took its hero's name to heart. In only its second episode ever, “Daredevil” shattered all expectations with a seemingly one-take fight scene that has to be seen to be believed. Then, in Season 2, the production managed to do it again. And, as with any good sequel, this follow-up is bigger, badder, and bolder. It’s the same top-tier action fans know and love, but with an added emphasis on atmosphere that propels it to a whole other level. The show already had some of the best stunt work on television, and by presumably filming it all in a single take, it went from “great” to “legendary.”
#3: Take Me to Church
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“Kingsman: The Secret Service” (2014)
Harry Hart brought a gun to a fistfight, and the outcome was a bloodbath of biblical proportions. Although, most of that is Valentine’s fault. His SIM cards turned the congregation into a glorified battle royale. Unfortunately for them, Harry has a lot of experience in that department. His ridiculous skills are brought to life through an absurdly entertaining fight scene chock-full of bloodshed and mayhem. Even if his victims are all brainwashed bystanders, there’s just something gratifying about watching Harry cut loose. Especially with such an epic soundtrack backing him up. When the last body finally falls, Harry’s already proven that no one does a fight scene quite like “Kingsman” does.
#2: Pit Stop
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“Children of Men” (2006)
Production experts told director Alfonso Cuarón it’d be impossible to depict this car chase in a single shot. He took that as a challenge, and audiences are still thanking him for it. For perspective, it took heavy modifications just to fit the camera operator into the car at all. Let alone the fact that the scene required exploding windows and a character's death. Rest assured, it paid off with a hypnotic masterclass of filmmaking at its finest. This is the kind of immersive scene that makes you forget you’re watching a movie at all. While “Children of Men” gets rightful acclaim for its one-take shootouts, this car chase is the real pinnacle of what a single-shot scene can be.
#1: Corridor Horror
“Oldboy” (2003)
All this fight has to its name is a single-camera setup and a very tenacious cast. But, after three days and seventeen takes, “Oldboy” handed in a smackdown that’s iconic on reputation alone. Trust us, it lives up to the hype. Despite its smooth single-take, the beauty of this brawl is that it’s anything but clean. Punches miss. The thugs get tired and catch their breath. Still, there’s no hidden cuts to add stunt work or tighten up the pacing. Instead, this is a true fisticuffs match, with all the gritty realism that comes with it. After watching Dae-su singlehandedly produce one of the cinema’s greatest fight scenes, his content smile is simply everything.
